I do. I also find German American, Irish American, and so on offensive. If are born in this country, you are American only, no matter what color you are.
2007-02-08 06:47:30 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I'm totally with you in that boat! I think I love you. (Just Kidding) lol
2007-02-08 06:50:42 · answer #1 · answered by Smeather 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I don't find it offensive...what I do find offensive is when people say they're Dominican or whatever when they were born here in the states.
I see the prefix of African or German or Italian etc more as an adjective describing background than nationality. But that's really the problem isn't it...most people don't know the difference between nationality and ethnic background.
By definition the word nationality means: The status of belonging to a particular nation by origin, birth, or naturalization.
But you ask most people what their nationality is and they tell you where their parents or ancestors are from and they associate with that even though many of them have never even BEEN where their predecessors are from...go figure.
2007-02-08 15:01:20 · answer #2 · answered by Chanteuse_ar 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I agree. I'm not a Scottish American or a English american. I'm an American and only that. To be anything other than that and be a citizen of this country is to divide your loyalty.
I think the following quote from Teddy Roosevelt sums it up perfectly.
"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
Twenty-sixth President of the United States
2007-02-08 14:57:36 · answer #3 · answered by smilindave1 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Offensive... no.
Inappropriate... yes.
I agree we all should be called Americans. Why segregate us anymore than we already are as a country and a people.
Besides, not all black people are from Africa. Some are from Haiti, Trinidad/Tobago, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, etc. Just like not all white people are from Europe. Ever seen a blue-eyed, blonde person from Brasil or Argentina? I have, many times.
2007-02-09 10:00:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree, Id rather be a just an American. Iv never been to Africa and I wasn't born there. I don't think African American is offensive though.
2007-02-08 14:57:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
not offensive when describing ones self, just descriptive. it's quite possible that a person knows where they are "from" - the problem with using that term to describe others is that you can't be sure based upon complexion that they are part of a particular culture, so it's not necessarily accurate (and really, in any case, not your business.)
my husband and i have white skin, but historically speaking, we came from everywhere but the mayflower!
we like the term "pasty" - all it tells people is yes, we have to use a sh**load of sunscreen!
when my son was almost 4, he gave me the perfect compliment. I had gotten dressed up so we could all go out and he said "mommy, you look so pretty, just like the brown girls on the videos! (MTV) i was like wow, i must look hot!
maybe not p.c., but at least he was only using the obvious to describe color,which is better than assuming things you don't know about people to be true.
2007-02-08 15:15:11 · answer #6 · answered by mommynow 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't find it offensive at all. There is nothing wrong with claiming your culture. Just because you are "American", the other stuff doesn't go away. The first thing people see is the color of your skin, whether they admit it or not.
BUT... no... not all black people prefer to be called African American. I'm black, and thats what I prefer to be called. Or yes... American.
2007-02-08 14:57:46 · answer #7 · answered by *karasi* 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't really find it offensive, because i prefer it to the term "black", i find that offensive because not all "African American's" are 'black' we come in all different types of colors and skin tones.
I consider myself to be "american", this is where i was born & raised, and so were my parents THEY DID NOT come from Africa.
They say they call us African, because this is where our ancestors came from, but isn't it true that we all come from the same two people "Adam & Eve". So don't we all derive from the same ancestors?
2007-02-08 14:56:09 · answer #8 · answered by Mommy of 3 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I do....I feel if African American is listed on a list so should Asian American, European American and South American, and North American. I am proud of my heritage too...why can't I get a spot for it.
2007-02-08 14:53:30 · answer #9 · answered by christina k 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Not really, African American is better than some other names we were called. And I do agree with you though it's not good to isolate ourselves from each other, but I just think carrying a piece your history around in your title is cool.
2007-02-08 14:55:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I appreciate the pride of being an American, but the terms that you define describe ancestry, and I like being an African American
2007-02-08 14:51:12 · answer #11 · answered by danicolegirl 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋